Keep it Simple: A mighty wind, a mighty dark day
The sky darkened and it looked like we were finally going to get a much needed rain which we hoped would be hard enough and long enough to settle the dusty topsoil in the vegetable and flower gardens.
We got the needed rain in aces although we had no idea our rain, which we were thankful for, was playing out much differently several miles to the south - in the form of a wide ranging tornado roughly following a west to east path along M-32, culminating in mind-boggling destruction within Gaylord's city limits as it touched down laying waste to whatever was in its path.
My wife and I had spent the afternoon working outside and only came in as the sky darkened and then darkened some more. Soon a downpour commenced, causing puddles of standing water in the lawn and the formerly dry gardens. At the beginning of the rain it was accompanied by clichéd hail the size of golf balls, but there was nothing in this spring storm to indicate it was anything more than that - a much needed rainfall which displaced drought-like conditions.
After the storm our grandson Gabe; a world class worry-wart from Midland, called to see if we were alright. He had heard there had either been a tornado in the Elmira-Gaylord area, or that there was a chance of a tornado here. We laughed off his concern and informed him we didn't live in a tornado area and were just fine. We were of course very, very wrong. I doubt if that boy will ever believe anything his grandparents ever tell him again.
Shortly after talking to our grandson I looked at my phone and realized Gaylord had indeed been hit by a tornado and there was significant damage. Damage, which over the next several hours and days became known to everyone across the state and country.
Otsego County United Way director Erin Mann put it quite succinctly as to the challenges which lay ahead for the community as it recovers from the devastating impact of the rare tornado which touched down in Gaylord: "We have to think of this as a marathon, not a sprint." A marathon is exactly how this feels to the folks who call this part of Northern Michigan home. Cleanup will be long, extensive and expensive.
The needs of those directly impacted will be needs measured in months, maybe even years. The United Way building has been ground zero for the collection of many donations which have poured in from caring communities all across the state. My wife and I helped out several times during the week following the local disaster which has changed so many lives.
We helped unload box after box of all sorts of items: blankets, pillows, bottled water, cleaning supplies and personal care items from Alpena, Traverse City, Midland, the Detroit area, West Branch, Rogers City, and points in-between. So many donations that it has taken and will take an army of volunteers just to thank everyone personally.
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Donations are still welcome and much needed and may be dropped off at United Way, 116 E. Fifth St. The items most in need at the moment included sunscreen, insect repellent, first-aid kits, laundry soap, storage bags and baby formula, although Mann said it is best to call the agency at 989-732-8929 as current needs can change on a daily basis. Gift cards and financial donations are also greatly appreciated. United Way also has a temporary dumpster on-site which is accepting household and building debris.
As we work up a good head of steam for this major marathon Mother Nature has laid at our doorstep the Gaylord community and other areas of the county hit hard, just know we are still here, still running toward our stated goal of full recovery and we are in it to win it.
— Michael Jones is a columnist and contributor for the Gaylord Herald Times. He can be reached at mfomike2@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Keep it Simple: A mighty wind, a mighty dark day
